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POMONA, Calif. – UC San Diego was held to 23 second-half points as Cal Poly Pomona climbed all the way back from a 21-point deficit to win 70-63 at Kellogg Gym Saturday night in Pomona. The Tritons built a 40-21 halftime lead before the Broncos poured in 49 points in the final half to grab the victory.

UCSD drops to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), while CPP improves to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in CCAA play.

Drew Dyer led the Tritons on the night with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Adam Klie scored 13 points for UCSD in the loss. The Broncos were led by a game-high 26 points from DeRonn Scott.

“We came out and played really well in the first half and managed to build a good lead,” said head coach Eric Olen. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to maintain that level of execution for 40 minutes tonight.”

In a tale of two halves, the Tritons came out in the first and put on a shooting clinic from the floor. UCSD made 14-of-23 shots (60.8%) from the field and poured in eight threes on 11 attempts from beyond the arc (72.7%). Dyer led the charge with 15 points on five-of-six shooting from three, making his first five.

UCSD grabbed its largest lead of the night with 2:39 remaining in the first half following a three from Klie that put the Tritons ahead by 21 at 40-19. UCSD held CPP to 10-of-28 shooting in the half for a mark of 35.7%.

As impressive as the first half was for the Tritons, the second half proved to be their downfall as UCSD was held to eight-of-27 shooting (29.6%) and three-for-11 from beyond three for 23 points. The Broncos nailed 15 of 26 shots, five treys and 14 of 18 free throws for 49 points in the period to come all the way back and win.

The Broncos opened the half on a 21-7 run to jump back into the game and cut the UCSD lead to five, 47-42, with 13:47 remaining. The Tritons countered with a layup from Dyer and a jumper from James McCann to push the lead back to nine, but the Broncos responded with another run to grab the advantage for good.

The Broncos outscored the Tritons 15-11 in the next 10 minutes to take a seven-point lead with 2:57 to go. A McCann three cut the deficit to four with a minute remaining, but CPP was able to close out the win with made free throws down the stretch.

“I think that as we continue to improve and play with more consistency we will be a very good team,” said Olen.

Overall, the Tritons finished 22-of-50 from the floor (44%), while the Broncos were 25-of-54 (46.3%). The Broncos scored 13 points off 11 Triton turnovers and outscored UCSD 22-14 in the paint. CPP narrowly won the rebounding battle, 32-31.

Jordan Faison finished behind Scott with 16 points for the Broncos in the win.

The Tritons return to RIMAC Arena on Monday, Dec. 16 against Cal State San Bernardino. UCSD suffered an overtime defeat, 77-73, on Nov. 21 at Coussoulis Arena to the league-favorite Coyotes earlier in the year. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.